Dispensing container



Oct. 22, 1935. I h I A. L. GRAMMEWEI' AL I 2,018,552

DISPENSING CONTAINER Filed Jan. 24, 1954 firm/170R: W/m Ess Z. Gracx riigzer 4; #017 C 6 Patented Oct. 22, 1935 UNITED STATES DISPENSING CONTAINER,

Allen L. Grammer, Meadowbrcok, and Harry 0. Cole, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application January 24, 1934, Serial No. 708,048

4 Claiml.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide adispensing container which shall be normally closed, from which the contents can be blown or ejected in substantially uniform amounts and which is self-cleaning in the sense that its discharge opening and closure are kept free and clean in cases where the contents are powder.

The invention, generally stated, consists in a dispensing container comprising a closed receptacle having a flexible wall and a discharge opening in combination with a closure of less diameter than the diameter of the opening and adapted to occupy the space bounded by the rim of the opening and to be projected outward from the rim, and a rigid connection between the closure and the wall whereby the closure is projected outward from the rim, and a modicum of the contents is expelled by air through the opening when the wall is flexed.

The invention also comprises the improvements to be presently described and finally claimed.

In the following description reference will be made to the accompanying drawing forming part thereof and in which there is illustrated a container embodying features of the invention and selected from other embodiments for the sake of illustration and description of the invention.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is an elevation view with parts broken away of a dispensing container embodying features of the invention showing the same in closed position, and

Figure 2 is a similar view of a portion of the container showing the parts in open position.

Fig. 3 is a view in detail of the valve mechanism, with parts broken away in vertical crosssection.

Referring to the drawing, I is a closed receptacle having a flexible wall 2 and a discharge opening 3 defined by a rim. The opening 3 is ararranged opposite the wall 2. 4 is a closure of less diameter than the diameter of the opening and it is adapted to occupy the space bounded by the rim of the opening and to be projected outward from the rim. 5 is a rigid connection connected with the wall 2 and carrying the closure 4. The fit between the closure 4 and the rim of the opening need not be an accurate one. As shown the closure 4 is spherical although that form is not necessary in all cases but it is important that the closure be of less diameter than the diameter of the opening so that it may fill or stop the opening and there is no everlapping of the closure and of the rim of the opening. To open the opening the closure is merely pushed outward through the opening. 6 indicates a guide for directing the discharge of the contents and it may be varied in shape so as to concentrate or scatter the same. The dispensing container is useful in connection with powder and it also can be used in connection with liquid. It is a peculiarity of the container that it dispenses substantially the same quantity of powder every time the wall 2 is flexed, and the quantity of powder can be increased or diminished by changing the proportions of the device. In the case of powder the closure and opening are self-cleaning in the sense that they do not retain a deposit of powder. This may be explained by saying that when the wall 2 is flexed not only is the closure pushed outward from the opening, as indicated in Figure 2. but also is air expelled which carries with it powder from the container. When the wall 2 is released in returning to its original position air is drawn into the container and these air currents operate to oppose deposition of powder.

The operation of the device may be described as follows: To expel a modicum of powder the 25 wall 2 is flexed and then released. During this operation the closure passes outward from the opening and then returns to its position within but not overlapping the opening.

The container shown is cylindrical in form and go is shown as having an integral shell but the form may be varied. The guide 6 is shown as of contracting tubular form provided at its apex with a round opening, but the opening may be of other shape, and the shape of the guide is not important.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates that modifications may be made in details of construction and arrangement and in matters of mere form without departing from the spirit of the invention. which is not limited in respect to such matters or otherwise than as the prior art and the appended claims may require.

We claim:

1. A dispensing container for powder comprising a closed receptacle having a flexible, resilient wall and a discharge opening, in combination with a closure of less diameter than the diameter of the opening and adapted to occupy a space bounded by the rim of the opening and to be projected outward from the rim, and a rigid connection between the closure and said flexible resilient wall whereby flexure of the wall projects the closure outward from the rim.

2. A dispensing receptacle for powder having a flexible, resilient wall and a discharge opening defined by a circular rim, in combination with a spherical closure of less diameter than the diameter of the rim and adapted to occupy a space bounded by the rim and to be projected outward from the rim, and a rod connected with the flexible, resilient wall and carrying the spherical closure.

3. A dispensing container for powder comprising a closed receptacle having a flexible, resilient 7 end wall and a discharge opening at the endopposite said flexible, resilient wall, in combination with a closure or less diameter than the diameter or the opening and adapted to occupy to be projected outward from the rim, and a rigid connection between the closure and said flexible, resilient wall whereby flexure or the wall projects the closure outward from the rim.

4. A dispensing receptacle for powder having a flexible, resilient end wall and a, discharge opening at the end opposite said flexible, resilient wall defined by a circular rim, in combination with a spherical closure of less diameter than the diameter of the rim and adapted to occupy 10 a space bounded by the rim and to be projected outward from the rim, and a rod connected with the flexible, resilient wall and carrying the spherical closure.

7 ALLEN L. GRAMMER.

HARRY C. COLE. 

